Vibration dampening firearm mount for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for dampening vibration forces being transmitted from a vehicle to a firearm mount and firearm to permit substantially vibration free aiming and firing of the firearm from the moving vehicle. A support member supports a pliable membrane and permits flexing movement of a region of the membrane in response to vibration forces. A firearm mount is secured to a flexing region of the membrane. Vibration forces transmitted from the vehicle to the firearm mount are dampened by flexing of the membrane due to the mass of the firearm thereby permitting the firearm to remain stabilized for accurate aiming and firing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally concerns firearm mount devices for supporting firearms on a moving object such as a vehicle and enabling the firearm to be used while the moving object is in motion or is stationary. This invention also concerns the mounting and use of firearms on moving objects, including land traversing vehicles, water borne craft and various types of aircraft. More particularly, the present invention concerns a mount system that accommodates and dampens the effect of vibration resulting from use or movement of vehicles and other objects and permits efficient and effective aiming and firing of the firearm during all conditions of vehicle activity.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Firearms, particularly for use by military and law enforcement personnel are often mounted on vehicles, such as trucks, boats, airplanes, helicopters and the like so that the firearms can be aimed and fired by personnel when the vehicles are stationary and when the vehicles are moving. Though the mounts permit aiming movement of the firearms the vehicle movement causes vibration that is conducted from the vehicle to the firearm, making it difficult to achieve effective aiming of the firearm. The lack of accuracy of the aiming and firing activity typically results in ineffective use of the firearm. There is a need therefore, for a firearm mount system that achieves effective dampening of vibration forces that are transmitted to a firearm from a moving vehicle and permits the firearm to be relatively free of vibration induced movement so that accurate aiming and firing of the firearm can be accomplished from the moving vehicle.

Of late, large caliber highly accurate rifles, such as the 50 caliber Barrett, have been developed for long range highly accurate firing. These large caliber rifles are often put to use by personnel that are trained in sniper activities to engage targets at extreme distances. In some cases the rifles are mounted within or on vehicles such as helicopters, automotive vehicles, tanks, armored personnel carriers and the like and are used to fire from the elevated locations while the helicopter is moving or hovering. In the case of vehicles such as helicopters, the rotary blades of typical helicopters communicate significant vibration forces to the body of a helicopter and to a large caliber firearm, when it is supported by a firearm mount on the helicopter body. These vibration forces prevent the firearm steadiness that is typically required for effective long range aiming and shooting. For that reason the only firearms that are typically used on helicopters and airplanes is a machine gun, with rotary multi-barreled machine guns being of preference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal feature of the present invention to provide a novel firearm mount for a movable object, such as an automotive vehicle, boat, airplane, helicopter or the like which dampens vibration and other jarring or shock forces and minimizes the transmission of such forces from the movable object to the firearm, thus permitting accurate aiming and firing of the firearm.

It is another feature of the present invention to provide a novel firearm mount for a movable object wherein a firearm can be easily and quickly positioned in supported and vibration dampening relation on a movable object.

Briefly, the various objects and features of the present invention are realized by providing a firearm support device on a vehicle. The firearm support device defines a connection receptacle within which a mount pin member is releasably received. The mount pin projects from a base plate. A membrane support frame member is disposed in spaced relation with the base plate by means of a plurality of standoff members. The membrane support frame member may be of generally rectangular configuration and defines fairly narrow frame sides that are integrally connected. Thus the membrane support frame member defines an open region between the integral frame sides.

A pliable vibration dampening membrane panel having a configuration and dimension as great as the dimension of the membrane support frame member is positioned with its edge portion or perimeter in engagement with the membrane support frame member and with the region within its perimeter being substantially unsupported. This manner of support permits the unsupported region of the pliable vibration dampening membrane panel to be movable relative to the membrane support frame member.

A membrane retention frame member, which may be of substantially identical size and configuration as compared with the membrane support frame member, is position in engagement with the outer edge portions or perimeter of the upper surface of the pliable vibration dampening membrane panel. Retainer members such as bolt and nut assemblies extend through holes in the membrane support frame member, the membrane retention frame member and the edges or perimeter of the pliable vibration dampening membrane panel to secure these components in intimate assembly. Thus, the edges or perimeter of the pliable vibration dampening membrane panel are essentially fixed to the mount base structure while the intermediate region of the pliable vibration dampening membrane panel is unsupported and thus free for movement.

A firearm mount is secured to the movable region of the pliable vibration dampening membrane panel and is thus movable in relation with the mount structure along with the movable region of the pliable vibration dampening membrane panel. As vibration forces are transmitted from the movable vehicle or object to the mount structure the mount structure will move in response to such forces. As this mount movement occurs the pliable vibration dampening membrane panel will yield in relation to the mass of the firearm and its mount, thus permitting the firearm to remain quite steady so that highly accurate aiming and firing can be accomplished.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the preferred embodiment thereof which is illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings are incorporated as a part hereof.

It is to be noted however, that the appended drawings illustrate only a typical embodiment of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration showing a vibration dampening firearm mount constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, representing the preferred embodiment and in broken lines showing a firearm supported on a movable vehicle in aiming and firing position by the mount;

FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration showing a side view of the vibration dampening firearm mount of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another isometric illustration showing front and side views of the vibration dampening firearm mount of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view showing further details of the vibration dampening firearm mount of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the vibration dampening firearm mount of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the vibration dampening firearm mount of FIGS. 1-5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the central portion of the vibration dampening membrane and further showing connection of the firearm support device to central region of the membrane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIG. 1 a vibration dampening firearm mount, shown generally at 10, is supported on a vehicle, such as an automotive vehicle, boat, airplane, helicopter or the like by means of a mount support arm 12 that extends from the vehicle and is moveable so that the mount and a firearm supported thereby can be retracted into the vehicle or extended from an opening of the vehicle as desired. A firearm positioning support device, shown generally at 14, is provided to support a firearm 16, such as a highly accurate large caliber long range firearm, which is shown in broken line in FIG. 1. It is to be understood that the firearm 16 represents no part of the present invention, but rather is supported by the vibration dampening mount mechanism so that the vibration forces of the vehicle, which would otherwise be transmitted to the firearm are sufficiently dampened that the firearm can be effectively aimed and fired for highly accurate long range shooting from the vehicle.

Firearm mounts have been used on vehicles such as helicopters to provide support and aiming capability for firearms, such as machine guns, that do not require a steady platform for aiming and firing. The vibrations that are transmitted by the rotary blades of a helicopters to the body structure of the helicopter typically makes it extremely difficult to effectively aim and fire a large caliber rifle (50 caliber for example) in a manner achieving accurate long range shooting. It is desirable therefore to provide a firearm mount mechanism that has the capability for dampening these vibration forces so that the rifle support platform can be sufficiently free of these vibration forces and effective long range aiming and firing of a rifle can be effectively accomplished.

As shown in the side elevation view of FIG. 4 the vibration dampening firearm mount 10 includes a base plate 18, which is shown as being of generally rectangular or square form, with rounded corners as is evident in FIG. 6. This particular base plate configuration is not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the present invention in any manner whatever, since other base plate configuration may be employed. To the central portion of the base plate 18 a connecting flange 20 of a mount pin 22 is mounted by means of a plurality of mount bolts 24. The mount pin 22 is of generally cylindrical configuration and defines an intermediate circular groove or recess 26 into which a connecting latch of the support arm 12 is received to releasably secure the vibration dampening firearm mount to a mounting end of the support arm.

A membrane support frame 28, also of generally rectangular configuration with rounded corners, defines an open central region and is maintained in spaced relation with the base plate 18 by means of a plurality of stand-off members 30. Bolt and nut assemblies 32 extend through openings of the membrane support frame 28 and extend through openings of the stand-off members 30 and also extend through openings of a membrane retention frame 34 that may be of substantially identical geometry as compared with the membrane support frame 28.

Between the membrane support frame 28 and the membrane retention frame 34 is located one or more vibration dampening membranes 36 having perimeter portions 38 through which the bolt and nut assemblies 32 also extend. Additional nut and bolt assemblies 40 also extend through the membrane support frame and membrane retention frame and also through the perimeter portions of the membrane or membranes for clamping retention of the perimeter portions of the membrane or membranes. Since the membrane support frame 28 and the membrane retention frame each define openings within the frame perimeters the central portions of the vibration dampening membranes 36 are unsupported, thus permitting movement of the central portions of the membranes due to flexing of the membrane material as vibration forces are transmitted to them via the mount pin 22, the mount base plate 18 and the membrane support frame 28.

While the drawings illustrate two superposed vibration dampening membranes, it is to be borne in mind that a single membrane may be employed or three or more membranes may be employed, depending on factors such as the weight of the firearm and mount mechanism and the amount of vibration that is likely to be encountered.

Although a membrane support frame 28 and a membrane retention frame 34 are shown to present the membrane so that its central region is movable responsive to vibration forces other embodiments of the present invention may be provided that do not provide support and retention frames and yet permit the perimeter of the vibration dampening membrane to be supported while the central region of the membrane is movable relative to the membrane support generally in the direction defined by the longitudinal axis of the mount pin 20 or toward and away from the firearm support device 14. In essence, therefore, as vibration forces are transmitted to the vehicle, these forces are transmitted to the membrane support mechanism. The membrane support mechanism is moved by these vibration forces, but the central region of the vibration dampening membrane remains substantially immovable due to the mass of the firearm 16 and firearm support and thus the firearm support device 14 and the firearm 16 remain essentially immovable. Since the firearm remains essentially free of the usual vibration forces that develop and the vehicle is operated, the firearm can be accurately aimed and fired.

The standoff members 30 are of sufficient dimension to position the vibration dampening membrane or membranes in sufficiently spaced relation with the base plate 18 so that the potential for membrane contact with the base plate is minimal regardless of the character of vibration forces that may be encountered.

The vibration dampening membrane or membranes 36 are composed of a material or composite of materials that cause the membrane to be flexible and yet fairly resistant to flexing movement. It has been determined that a material such as conveyor belt material serves quite well for membrane construction and use. The conveyor belt material is a composite of a fairly stiff rubber or rubber-like polymer material having multiple layers of a durable fabric material embedded therein. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to conveyor belt material to form the vibration dampening membrane or membranes. Other suitable flexible materials such as natural rubber or polymer, whether filled with other materials or not may be quite acceptable for service as a vibration dampening membrane without departing form the spirit and scope of the present invention.

A membrane connector plate member 42 is retained in engagement with the lower surface 44 of the vibration dampening membrane 36 by bolt and nut assemblies 46 as indicated in the fragmentary section view of FIG. 7. The bolt and nut assemblies 46 also secure the bottom plate 48 of the firearm positioning support mechanism 14 to the upper surface 52 of the vibration dampening membrane 36. The firearm positioning support mechanism also includes a pair of spaced upwardly projecting firearm support struts 54 and 56 each defining pivot openings 60 and 62. A pivotally mounted firearm connector member 64 includes a pair of spaced pivot plates 66 and 68 that are each pivotally mounted at the pivot openings 60 and 62 by pivot members 70. The pivotally mounted firearm connector member 64 includes a forwardly projecting firearm connection member 72 having a firearm connection projection 74 and defining a generally rectangular connection recess 76 within which a firearm retainer projection member of the firearm 16 is received and releasably secured.

Operation:

A vehicle such as a helicopter will be provided with a mount support arm 12 having a mount receptacle defined thereby. A vibration dampening firearm support mount 10, described in detail above, is positioned so that its mount pin 22 is received in releasable and latched relation within the mount receptacle. A firearm, such as a highly accurate large caliber rifle, is releasably secured to the firearm support device 14 and is thus permitted to be movable relative to the firearm support device for aiming and shooting.

As the vehicle is moved vibration forces are transmitted from the vehicle through the mount support arm and to the vibration dampening firearm mount. Because of the mass of the firearm and its support, movement of the vibration dampening firearm mount by the vibration forces will cause yielding of the substantially unsupported region of the vibration dampening membrane, thus permitting the firearm to remain essentially steady and permitting highly accurate aiming and firing of the firearm.

When the firearm is no longer needed, it can be simply and quickly released from its support device 14 thus removing the weight of the firearm from the vibration dampening firearm support mount 10. The mount 10 can then be unlatched and released from the support arm 12 if desired. Typically the support arm is retractable so that assembly of the mount 10 to the support arm and assembly of the firearm to the support mount can be accomplished within the vehicle.

In view of the foregoing it is evident that the present invention is one well adapted to attain all of the objects and features hereinabove set forth, together with other objects and features which are inherent in the apparatus disclosed herein.

As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention may easily be produced in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered as merely illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A method for dampening vibration forces being transmitted from a movable object responsive to movement of the object, comprising: with a support member supporting a pliable membrane and permitting flexing movement of a region of said pliable membrane; mounting a firearm to said region of said pliable membrane, and dampening vibration forces transmitted from the movable object by movement of said support member in a manner causing flexing of said region of said pliable membrane and permitting said firearm to be supported by said region of said pliable membrane and subject to dampened vibration forces.
 2. The method of claim 1, comprising: supporting edge portions of said pliable membrane by said support member and permitting said region of said pliable membrane to be movable relative to said support member and dampening vibration forces transmitted by the object to said support member to yield said region of said pliable membrane and substantially isolate said firearm from movement by the vibration forces.
 3. The method of claim 1, comprising: connecting a firearm support to said region of said pliable membrane, said firearm support mechanism being movable along with said region of said pliable membrane; mounting said firearm to said firearm support mechanism; and stabilizing said firearm and said firearm support by vibration force induced flexing movement of said region of said pliable membrane.
 4. A vibration dampening mount system for firearms mounted for use on a moveable object, comprising: a membrane support being connected with the moveable object; a pliable membrane being secured to said membrane support and defining a movable membrane portion; a firearm mount being secured to said movable membrane portion; a firearm being moveably supported by said firearm mount for aiming and firing activity; and vibration induced movement of said membrane support responsive to movement of the moveable object being dampened by said pliable membrane and minimizing transmission of vibration forces from said membrane support to said firearm and permitting aiming and firing of the firearm substantially free of the vibration forces.
 5. The vibration dampening mount system of claim 4, comprising: edge portions of said pliable membrane being secured to said membrane support and leaving a region of said pliable membrane free for vibration force induced flexing; said firearm mount being secured to said region of said pliable membrane; said firearm being releasably supported by said firearm mount; and vibration forces from said moveable object being transmitted to said membrane support and causing vibration force induced flexing of said region of said pliable membrane and dampening vibration force transmission to said firearm and firearm mount and minimizing vibration induced movement of said firearm mount and said firearm.
 6. The vibration dampening mount system of claim 4, comprising: a mount support being connected with said moveable object and defining a mount receptacle; a mount base having a connector member being receivable by said mount receptacle; a membrane support being mounted in spaced relation with said mount base; an edge portion of said pliable membrane being supported by said membrane support; a membrane retainer member engaging said edge portion of said pliable membrane; and a retainer securing said membrane support member said membrane retainer member to said edge portion of said pliable membrane.
 7. The vibration dampening mount system of claim 6, comprising: said mount base being a plate member; and a mount pin being connected with said plate member and projecting downwardly therefrom and being received by a mount support member of the movable object.
 8. The vibration dampening mount system of claim 6, said membrane support comprising: a support frame member having supporting engagement with an edge portion of a lower surface of said pliable membrane; a retention frame member engaging an edge portion of an upper surface of said pliable membrane; and retainer members extending through said support frame member, said edge portion of said pliable membrane and said retention frame member and securing the same in assembly.
 9. The vibration dampening mount system of claim 4, comprising: at least one standoff member being interposed between said mount base and said mount support and defining said spaced relation of said mount base and said mount support.
 10. The vibration dampening mount system of claim 4, comprising: said pliable membrane being composed of at least one panel of fabric impregnated resilient material and having sufficient structural integrity to provide adequate support for said firearm mount and firearm and yielding in response to vibration forces communicated thereto to dampen the vibration forces and substantially isolate the vibration forces from the firearm so that the firearm is maintained substantially steady during movement of said movable object and can be accurately aimed and fired.
 11. The vibration dampening mount system of claim 4, comprising: a membrane connector plate member engaging a lower surface of said movable portion of said pliable membrane; said firearm mount having a lower plate member disposed in engagement with an upper surface of said movable portion of said pliable membrane; and retainer members extending through said membrane connector plate member, said movable portion of said pliable membrane and said lower plate member of said firearm mount and securing said firearm to said movable portion of said pliable membrane.
 12. A vibration dampening mount system for firearms mounted for use on a moveable object, comprising: a support mechanism having supporting relation with the moveable object; a pliable vibration dampening membrane having edge portions being supported by said mount frame structure and having a movable portion; a firearm mount being secured to and moveable with said movable portion of said pliable vibration dampening membrane; a firearm being moveably supported by said firearm mount for aiming and firing activity; and vibration movement of said mount frame structure responsive to movement of the moveable object being dampened by yielding movement said movable portion of said pliable membrane and minimizing transmission of vibration forces from said mount frame structure to said firearm, thus permitting aiming and firing of the firearm substantially free of the vibration forces.
 13. The vibration dampening mount system of claim 12, comprising: said mount body defining a membrane support perimeter and defining a relieved region within said membrane support perimeter permitting a region of said pliable vibration dampening membrane to be substantially unsupported and disposed in movable relation with said mount body; and said firearm mount being secured to said substantially unsupported portion of said pliable dampening membrane; and upon movement of said mount body by vibration forces transmitted from said movable object said pliable dampening membrane yielding and dampening the vibration forces, whereby the firearm mount and firearm remain substantially steady for accurate aiming and firing of the firearm.
 14. The vibration dampening mount system of claim 12, comprising: said pliable dampening membrane having edge portions thereof secured to said membrane support perimeter and having a portion thereof being substantially unsupported and moveable relative to said membrane support perimeter.
 15. The vibration dampening mount system of claim 12, wherein said mount body comprises: a mount plate member; said pliable vibration dampening membrane defining an edge portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and defining a movable region; a support frame engaging said lower surface a membrane retention frame engaging said upper surface; and standoff members interposed between said mount plate member and said support frame and defining a sufficiently spaced relation therebetween to permit maximum pliable vibration dampening membrane flexing movement in response to vibration forces.
 16. The vibration dampening mount system of claim 15, comprising: a mount pin being secured to said mount plate member and being receivable by a mount support of said movable object;
 17. The vibration dampening mount system of claim 15, comprising: a firearm mount being secured to said moveable region of said pliable dampening membrane; and a firearm being moveably received by said firearm mount and being moveable relative to said firearm mount for aiming and firing activity; and yielding movement of said moveable region of said pliable vibration dampening membrane responsive to transmission of vibration forces thereto causing dampening of the vibration forces and permitting the firearm and said firearm mount to remain substantially free of the vibration forces and sufficiently steady for accurate aiming and firing of the firearm.
 18. The vibration dampening mount system of claim 17, comprising: a mount plate member; said pliable vibration dampening membrane defining an edge portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and defining a movable region; a membrane support frame engaging said lower surface; a membrane retention frame engaging said upper surface; and retainer members extending through said membrane support frame, said edge portion of said pliable vibration dampening membrane and said membrane retention frame and securing the same in assembly. 